Samsung launches LTE-equipped 16-megapixel Galaxy S4 Zoom in Europe

Samsung has announced that a new LTE-edition Galaxy S4 Zoom smartphone is now available in Europe.

"Promising a faster than ever connection, the LTE capabilities allow users to experience the connected features of the Galaxy S4 Zoom with greater speed, so that they are able to connect with their world easily and quickly," the Korean electronics giant wrote in a blog post.

The LTE-edition is available on several different networks, including Deutsche Telekom, Tele2, Telia Sonera, and Orange, Samsung said.

The Galaxy S4 Zoom, first unveiled in June, sports a 10x optical zoom and looks like a combination of the Galaxy S4 Mini and the Galaxy Camera. On one side is the familiar smartphone interface and on the other is a camera with a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, an optical image stabiliser, and Xeon flash.

The device includes a feature known as Zoom Ring, which offers up easy access to the phone's key features. If you're on a call and spot something you want to share, for instance, simply twist the Zoom Ring to activate an in-call photo share feature. You can then snap a photo and send it via text to the person with whom you are talking.

The Zoom Ring can also be used to activate Quick Launch and Shortcut features for instant access to different camera modes like Auto, Gallery, and Smart Mode. Samsung has also replaced the traditional zoom buttons with digital controls.

A feature known as Photo Suggest, meanwhile, uses GPS to find your location and shows a library of public images taken in the area for inspiration. It can also direct you to a better vantage point if you're at a frequently photographed site.

After you've taken a shot, you can use a feature called Photo Signature to add a physical stamp to your image, so you'll always be properly credited for the images you produce. Signatures can be manually added to individual photos in one click, or automatically added to images as you capture them.